Ikara

GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT FACTORY IKARA TN304

Ship-borne anti-submarine missile

History

Ikara was designed by DSTO in the 1960s and named after an Aboriginal word for ‘throwing stick’. It was used to transport the Mk 44 torpedo to the target zone identified by the ship’s sonar. Guided by a radio command link, the torpedo was released and then descended by parachute. When reaching the water, the torpedo would home in on the target using an acoustic sensor.